Ten years ago, Anush Hovoyan, and her husband left their tiny domik in Mets Mantash, Armenia, to manage a large farm full of animals, a garden and an orchard in Herik, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh (NK). Their eight children grew up in the two houses they owned. In 2019, this family went through a terrible ordeal when Anush’s husband died of a heart attack. But they overcame their loss and Anush courageously continued to raise her children on her own.

When the war broke out in September 2020, Anush took her family back to Mets Mantash, without having time to take any of her possessions. Fortunately, she found relatives there who rented a house for her. Her three oldest sons left to defend their motherland. Two of them were doing their military service, the third was voluntary. He returned physically unharmed but psychologically traumatized. The other two are still in NK today, doing their military service.

Without complaining, Anush started all over again in Mets Mantash. She has started to cultivate a field of potatoes which she sells to feed her children. Being selected as a beneficiary for both livelihood and shelter component of the project, Armenian Caritas (AC) gave her two calves and the fodder necessary for their maintenance.

The house in Mets Mantash is old and very small for such a large family, and in bad condition when they moved in. With the help of Armenian Caritas (AC), running water and hot water were installed inside the house. A bathroom and toilet have been fitted out. The floor has been renovated. Anush never complains, but she always expresses her gratitude-: “Caritas has helped us tremendously. The house is comfortable now and in addition, the rent will decrease a lot because the work carried out by Caritas is really important. This is going to be a real relief for me. Thank you so much!”

All of her children are deeply impacted by the ordeal they have endured. However, Anush is confident about the future. “We will live here and in this new house, we will be able to be happy”.